Valve system

Abstract

The present invention provides a valve system comprising a valve body having at least a first port and a second port; a valve member located within said valve body and operably movable between a first position at which said first port is sealed and a second position in which said first port is fully open; and an operating mechanism for moving the valve member between the first and second positions. The operating mechanism is adapted to be mounted adjacent the valve body and includes a transmission member operatively connected with the valve member, and a rotary actuator operable to effect movement of the transmission member. The operating mechanism is such that rotary movement of the actuator member effects independent linear and rotational movements of the transmission member causing corresponding linear and rotational movements of the valve member moving it from the first position to the second position. The transmission member and actuator member are desirably located within a housing mounted adjacent the valve body. The movement of the valve member from the first position to the second position typically comprises an initial linear movement of the valve member out of sealed engagement at the first port, followed by rotational movement. The rotational movement of the valve member is preferably through an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

1 . A valve system comprising: 
 a valve body having at least a first port and a second port;    a valve member located within said valve body and operably movable between a first position at which a part of the valve member seals said first port, and a second position in which said first port is fully open and unobscured by said valve member part; and    an operating mechanism for moving the valve member between the first and second positions, the operating mechanism adapted to be mounted adjacent the valve body and comprising: 
 a transmission member operatively connected with the valve member; and  
 an actuator member operable to effect movement of the transmission member, whereby rotary movement of the actuator member effects independent linear and rotational movements of the transmission member causing corresponding linear and rotational movements of the valve member to move it from the first position to the second position.  
   
     
     
         2 . A valve system according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating mechanism includes a housing which is mounted adjacent the valve body, and wherein the transmission member and the actuator member are located within said housing.  
     
     
         3 . A valve system according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein movement of the valve member from the first position to the second position includes an initial linear movement of the valve member out of sealed engagement at the first port, followed by a rotational movement.  
     
     
         4 . A valve system according to  claim 3 , wherein the rotational movement of the valve member is through an angle of approximately 90 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . A valve system according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the transmission member has one or more shaped portions for interaction with one or more abutment surfaces in the housing, and wherein the linear movement of the transmission member results from reaction forces between the shaped portion(s) of the transmission member and the abutment surface(s) within the housing upon rotary movement of the actuator.  
     
     
         6 . A valve system according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more shaped portions are provided at a periphery of the transmission member, and wherein the one or more abutment surfaces are provided at the inner sides of the housing.  
     
     
         7 . A valve system according to  claim 6 , wherein the abutment surfaces at the inner sides of the housing include a surface presented by at least a first inwardly projecting element, and wherein the shaped portions at the periphery of the transmission member include at least one recess or shoulder adapted to receive or abut the first projecting element when the valve member is in the first position.  
     
     
         8 . A valve system according to  claim 7 , wherein the abutment surfaces at the inner sides of the housing include a surface presented by a second inwardly projecting element, and wherein said recess or shoulder is adapted to receive or abut that second projecting element when the valve member is in the second position.  
     
     
         9 . A valve system according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the transmission member is rigidly connected to the valve member at one side thereof, the other side having a pin protrusion, and wherein the rotary actuator member is adapted to operably engage the transmission member at the pin protrusion for moving the valve member between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         10 . A valve system according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuator member includes a hole or aperture within which the pin protrusion is received, the inner sides of said hole or aperture adapted to engage the pin protrusion for moving the valve member between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         11 . A valve system according to  claim 10 , wherein the pin-receiving hole or aperture in the actuator member is substantially larger than the pin protrusion itself thereby providing the actuator member with a degree of “play” or room for movement without causing movement of the transmission member.  
     
     
         12 . A valve system according to  claim 11 , wherein the actuator member is mounted on a shaft, via which rotary motion is imparted to the actuator member.  
     
     
         13 . A valve system according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the actuator member and the transmission member are each formed from plate material, and lie adjacent one another within the operating mechanism housing for movement in substantially parallel planes.  
     
     
         14 . A valve system according to any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein the first port is fully unobscured when the valve member is in the second position.  
     
     
         15 . A valve system according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the valve member is adapted to provide fluid communication between the first and the second ports when the valve member is in the second position.  
     
     
         16 . A valve system according to  claim 15 , wherein the valve member includes a closed or blind face for sealing against a valve seat at the first port when the valve member is in the first position, and an open pipe segment adapted to provide fluid communication between the first and the second ports when the valve member is in the second position.  
     
     
         17 . A valve system according to  claim 16 , wherein the first port of the valve body is an outlet port, and the second port is an inlet port.  
     
     
         18 . A valve system according to  claim 17 , wherein the open pipe segment has substantially the same dimensions as the flow openings of the inlet and outlet ports.  
     
     
         19 . A valve system according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the second port is sealed when the valve member is at said second position.  
     
     
         20 . A valve system according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second ports of the valve body are outlet ports, and wherein the valve member is movable between the first and second positions to divert flow from a third inlet port of the valve body to either one of the first or second outlet ports.  
     
     
         21 . A valve system according to  claim 20 , wherein movement of the valve member from the first position to the second position comprises an initial linear movement of the valve member out of sealed engagement at the first port, followed by a rotational movement of the valve member and then a further linear movement into sealed engagement at the second port.  
     
     
         22 . A valve system according to  claim 21 , wherein the valve member includes a disc-shaped plug for sealing against a valve seat at each of the first and second outlet ports in the first and second positions, respectively.  
     
     
         23 . A valve system according to  claim 22 , wherein the valve seat at each of the first and second outlet ports includes a circular bevelled edge.  
     
     
         24 . A valve system according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a locking mechanism to lock the valve member in a mid-position between the first and second positions, the locking mechanism including: 
 a movable locking pin biased into contact with the transmission member; and a slot provided in said transmission member for receiving the locking pin;    wherein the locking pin is designed to enter the slot and thereby lock the transmission member against further movement.    
     
     
         25 . A valve system according to  claim 24 , wherein the locking mechanism includes disabling means adapted to hold the locking pin in a retracted state to prevent it from entering the locking slot in the transmission member.  
     
     
         26 . A diversion valve system comprising: 
 a valve body having at least a first outlet port and a second outlet port;    a valve member located within said valve body and operably movable between a first position in which it seals said first outlet port, and a second position in which it seals said second outlet port and said first outlet port is fully open; and    an operating mechanism for moving the valve member between the first and second positions to divert flow from an inlet port of the valve body to either one of the first or second outlet ports;    wherein the operating mechanism is adapted to be mounted adjacent the valve body and comprises: 
 a housing;  
 a transmission member within the housing, the transmission member being operatively connected with the valve member; and  
 an actuator member within the housing operable to effect movement of the transmission member, whereby rotary movement of the actuator member effects independent linear and rotational movements of the transmission member within the housing causing corresponding linear and rotational movements of the valve member moving it from the first position to the second position.  
   
     
     
         27 . A diversion valve system according to  claim 24 , wherein movement of the valve member from the first position to the second position comprises an initial linear movement of the valve member out of sealed engagement at the first outlet port, followed by a rotational movement of the valve member and then a further linear movement into sealed engagement at the second outlet port.  
     
     
         28 . A clear bore valve system comprising: 
 a valve body having at least a first outlet port and a second inlet port;    a valve member located within said valve body and operably movable between a first position in which it seals said first outlet port, and a second position in which said first outlet port is fully open providing unobstructed fluid communication between the first and the second ports; and    an operating mechanism for moving the valve member between the first and second positions to selectively open or close a passage for fluid flow through the valve system;    wherein the operating mechanism is adapted to be mounted adjacent the valve body and comprises: 
 a housing;  
 a transmission member within the housing, the transmission member being operatively connected with the valve member; and  
 an actuator member within the housing operable to effect movement of the transmission member, whereby rotary movement of the actuator member effects independent linear and rotational movements of the transmission member within the housing causing corresponding linear and rotational movements of the valve member as it moves from the first position to the second position.